| Apostle Islands National Lakeshore | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
.jpg) Devils Island shoreline | |
   | |
| Location | Ashland County andBayfield County,Wisconsin, United States |
| Nearest city | Bayfield, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 46°57′55″N90°39′51″W / 46.96528°N 90.66417°W /46.96528; -90.66417 |
| Area | 69,540 acres (281.4 km2)[1] |
| Established | September 26, 1970 (1970-09-26) |
| Visitors | 253,703 (in 2024)[2] |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Apostle Islands National Lakeshore |
TheApostle Islands National Lakeshore is aU.S.national lakeshore consisting of 21 islands (Apostle Islands) and shoreline encompassing 69,540 acres (28,140 ha)[1] on the northern tip ofWisconsin on the shore ofLake Superior.It is known for its collection of historic lighthouses, sandstonesea caves, a fewold-growth remnant forests, and natural animal habitats. It is featured on theAmerica the Beautiful Quarters series.
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is located inBayfield, Wisconsin, on Lake Superior, the "largest, cleanest, and coldest of the Great Lakes."[3] The lakeshore comprises beaches, cliffs, water, and 21 islands.[4] Of its area, 42,308 acres is land and 27,232 acres is water, extending 1/4 mile from the 155 miles of shoreline.[5]Madeline Island, with commercial establishments of the town ofLa Pointe, is the only one of the Apostle Islands not included in the national lakeshore, although a portion of the island is protected asBig Bay State Park.
There are over 800 plant species on the islands and lakeshore.[6] Ecologically, the islands contain someold growth, but primarilysecondaryNorthern hardwood forest. There are elements of the oak, hickory, and hemlockhardwood forests of the eastern United States, but also features of theBoreal forest typical of Ontario. Larger wildlife on the islands and surrounding area includewhitetail deer,black bear,red fox, andcoyote. Smaller mammals such assquirrels,beaver,otter,snowshoe hare, andvoles are also present.[7] Avian species in the wilderness includewaterfowl,ruffed grouse, andwoodcock.
Beginning in the west, going north around the outer islands, then west, then east, ending with the southernmost island, the islands are:
Historical evidence suggests that another island formerly existed alongside Eagle Island. It was known as Steamboat Island, although this name was apparently also used for Eagle Island itself, in which case Steamboat Island was called "Little Steamboat Island." Multiple sources dating from August 1901 document the disappearance of the island around that time, due to unknown natural forces.[8]
The Apostle Islands are a result of the glaciers that once covered North America. "Geologically they are originally part of the main land at the edge of the great rift or fault which formed the depression to which the waters of Lake Superior collected."[9] When the glaciers melted, waves from the waters of Lake Superior caused erosion that formed the islands. The islands are composed of mostly red sandstone because of the glacial shift.[10][clarification needed]
It is widely assumed that Native Americans were the first to inhabit the island. "There is some evidence that they were seen and possibly visited sometime in the fourteenth century by Indians who were making their way to Isle Royale near the north shore of the land in search of copper."[9] In the 17th century, the islands were visited byÉtienne Brûlé, a French explorer who, like many French Canadians, was trying to discover a new way to the East Indies. "Historians believe that the Jesuits named the islands the Apostle Islands according to their practice of giving holy names to new places."[11] It is said that fur traders were the first explorers to settle in the area, building a village from the money they brought in.
Previously used for logging, farming, and mining during the early 20th century, the islands are returning to a primitive state; evidence of human habitation is still present, albeit mostly obscured by the regenerating forests. The islands' coastlines possess varied geology, whereprecambrian sandstone has eroded intosea caves, and the resulting sand has formedsandspits,cuspate forelands,tombolos, barrier spits, and beaches.
United States SenatorGaylord Nelson sponsored the federal legislation that established the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.[12][13] Public Law 91-424 was signed by PresidentRichard M. Nixon on September 26, 1970. It included 20 islands, a 12-mile (19 km) strip of the mainland, and approximately 1/4 mile of Lake Superior jurisdiction adjacent to each land unit.[14]
Public Law 99-497 in 1986 added Long Island to the National Lakeshore and transferred ownership of all the light stations from theU.S. Coast Guard to theNational Park Service.
After the National Park Service completed a wilderness study in 2004 and received overwhelming support from the public, Congress designated 80 percent of the land area (35,000 acres (142 km2)) of the national lakeshore as the Gaylord Nelson Wilderness on December 8, 2004.[15] (Public Law 108-447, Division E, Section 140.) Of the twenty-twoApostle Islands, thewilderness area fully or partially covers eighteen and preserves the prohibition of motorized travel on the wilderness islands. It is the largest wilderness area in Wisconsin. It is named for Gaylord Nelson, aU.S. Senator andgovernor of Wisconsin, who was instrumental in establishing theNational Trails System, theWilderness Act, andEarth Day.[16]
TheNational Park Travelers Club held its 2012 convention at the Apostle Islands.[17]
In 2024, legislation was introduced to rename the national lakeshore as anational park, with Sand Island as anational preserve.[18]
Many of the islands offer public docking; a small fee is charged for overnight use.[19] The shoreline contains some historical sites, such as the many lighthouses throughout the islands. Fishing on Lake Superior is a popular activity for both boaters and non-boaters. The lake holds several species of trout and some species of salmon. In seasons when the water is warmer visitors can catch fish from the shore in water as shallow as ten feet.
Camping options range from more civilized sites that offer many amenities, such as well water, vault toilets, and food lockers, to sites that are more remote, further from other campers and offer nothing more than atent pad or fire ring. Camping is offered on 18 of the 21 islands in the national lakeshore. Permits are required from the National Park Service in advance; reservations for group sites begin most years in January and for individual sites 30 days in advance.[20]
Hunting is permitted on some islands for certain periods of the year. Game includewhite-tail deer,black bear,grouse, and other small game. As white-tailed deer have become abundant in recent years, deer hunting opportunities have been plentiful, although the logistics of hunting on the islands can be difficult. Hunting black bears is limited to two islands, and there are rules and regulations that apply only to specific areas.
To get from island to island many visitors choose to kayak, either bringing their own kayaks and equipment or renting from a local shop. The islands also offer opportunities to scuba divers to view interesting rock formations and shipwrecks. Scuba diving within a quarter-mile of any island shore requires obtaining a free permit from the park's visitor center.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has more lighthouses than any other National Park Service area (eight historic towers on six islands).[21] For most of the century, the sixApostle Islands Lighthouses have guided ships and boats through the rough waters of Lake Superior and through the Apostle Islands.
TheSand Island lighthouse is one of the most popular lighthouses to visit on the islands. This lighthouse is approximately 44 feet (13 m) tall and was one of the first lighthouses to be automated in 1922. Boats tour this island June through late August every year on trips provided by volunteers of the National Park Service.The lighthouse on Raspberry Island has been completely renovated and is one of the most scenic in the Apostle Islands. Other lighthouses in the Apostle islands include bothOld and New Michigan Island Lights, NewLa Pointe Light andChequamegon Point Light on Long Island,Devils Island Light, andOuter Island Light. The ruins of Old LaPointe Light can still be seen on Long Island, approximately 0.5 miles (0.80 km) away from the wreckage of the schoonerLucerne.
Bayfield, Wisconsin, home of the national lakeshore'sheadquarters and visitor center, becomes more popular during the summer, when visitors travel to and from the islands.[22] Other nearby communities areRed Cliff, three miles north of Bayfield, which offers a campground, marina, and the Legendary Waters Resort and Casino, and Washburn, located 10 miles (16 km) from Bayfield.
| Climate data for Bayfield, Wisconsin | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F | 20.7 | 25.5 | 36.7 | 50.1 | 63.2 | 72.4 | 78.4 | 75.5 | 65.8 | 55.2 | 39.2 | 25.2 | 50.7 |
| Mean daily minimum °F | 1.7 | 3.8 | 16.3 | 29.1 | 39 | 47.8 | 55.5 | 54.1 | 46 | 36.1 | 23.7 | 9.5 | 30.2 |
| Average rainfall inches | 1.6 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 32.3 |
| Average snowfall inches | 23.5 | 10.4 | 13.1 | 4.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 11.4 | 25.5 | 83.9 |
| Mean daily maximum °C | −6.3 | −3.6 | 2.6 | 10.1 | 17.3 | 22.4 | 25.8 | 24.2 | 18.8 | 12.9 | 4.0 | −3.8 | 10.4 |
| Mean daily minimum °C | −16.8 | −15.7 | −8.7 | −1.6 | 4 | 8.8 | 13.1 | 12.3 | 8 | 2.3 | −4.6 | −12.5 | −1.0 |
| Average rainfall mm | 41 | 23 | 56 | 53 | 84 | 89 | 89 | 110 | 100 | 74 | 58 | 46 | 820 |
| Average snowfall cm | 60 | 26 | 33 | 11 | 0.76 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 29 | 65 | 213 |
| Source:[23] | |||||||||||||
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